Human trafficking - Ireland must tackle issue

There was a time when people liked to think that brothels and prostitution were confined to larger cities, where the comings and goings of people would not generally be noticed. In a small town, however, a constant flow of strangers inevitably attracts the attention of neighbours.

Gardaí have become particularly aware of the problem, because so many cases of human trafficking have been uncovered in which people from Eastern Europe and Africa have been coerced into prostitution. They have been enticed into emigrating on the promise of good jobs, only to find themselves in the clutches of ruthless criminals.

Human trafficking is not just about the exploitation of women, but about the exploitation of children and also men.

The whole sordid business has grown to alarming proportions. Gardaí have been cracking down on it, but this has a knock-on effect of driving the whole thing further underground.

We must recognise that Ireland has a role to play in tackling this problem, which has a growing presence in this country. Ultimately, the abusers are not just those who traffic these unfortunate people, but also those who pay for their services.

They are effectively funding the pimps and gangsters who are conducting the trafficking, and compelling their victims to engage in prostitution.